Versatile Gun Sling

ABSTRACT

A gun sling that allows easy movement between various firing positions includes a loop of strapping, a means of adjustment, quick-release system, anchor point, and a sliding device. The sliding device allows an attached weapon to travel across the length of the gun sling itself. A stretchable material may be incorporated to at least one segment of the gun sling in order to facilitate the transition. Additionally, the gun sling may be used in a system involving a harness or vest, wherein a user attaches the gun sling to the hardness or vest and can allow easy transition under a user&#39;s arms.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 62/469,200 filed on Mar. 9, 2017 and titled “Versatile Gun Sling”,the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to firearm slings that can be utilized withrifles and/or shotguns. More specifically, the present invention relatesto a gun sling that allows a user to easily switch between firingpositions. This usability is also present when a user is wearing atraditional tactical vest commonly used by militaries.

2. THE PRIOR ART

Gun slings were first created in order to assist users when carryinglarge weapons. A user simply attaches their weapon to a closed length ofstrapping that is worn over one shoulder and runs diagonally to a user'ship area. It allows the user to be able to stow their weapon behind orin front quickly and also retrieve it when necessary. Additionally,having a weapon secured to oneself when not in use is a priority incombat. Over the years, various iterations of gun slings have existed onthe market to facilitate the carrying of large weapons, primarilyassault rifles. The most common types of firearm slings are “one-point”,“two-point”, and “three point” slings. One-point slings are typicallycomprised of a loop of strapping, with a connection point that isattachable to a rifle at one point. Two-point slings are able to connectto a weapon at two different points, normally in the front and back.Three-point slings also attach to a weapon at several points but areequipped with a quick-release in order to adjust the length of thesling. Quick releases are commonly seen in the form of a male and femalebuckle end that can allow a user to remove themselves from a firearmsling when the situation calls for it.

A drawback of these slings is that, while they do allow a user to carrya large weapon, they do not allow the user to freely move their weaponfrom various firing positions. Once oriented over a user's shoulders,these slings snag and do not allow a user to switch between variousfiring positions. More specifically, in a combat situation, a user hasto react quickly and change firing positions constantly in order toreduce the risk of being targeted. A lot of the mobility needed isreflective on the environment where a combatant must maneuver themselvesaround obstacles and do not always have the vantage point of firing fromthe most comfortable position. Most users are right-handed and orientthemselves as such, however, there are many times where a combatant mustcrossover to a left-handed firing position, and vice versa. A user'sdominant position is called “strong side” whereas the other side iscalled “support side” in the industry. A three-point sling does allowthe ability to switch from one side to the other, however, this has tobe accompanied by adjustment built into the sling itself. After thisadjustment has occurred, there is a large amount of slack created whenthe user switches back to their original position. This means that in acombat situation, a user has to either spend time readjusting theirsling or continue in combat with a loose strap. This can also beproblematic because the extra slack could be stepped on by the useritself, causing a loss of balance and even falling onto the ground.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a gun sling thatallows a user to easily transition from strong side to support side, andvice versa.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a gun slingthat eliminates the need to readjust the length of the sling whenchanging firing positions.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a gun slingthat is attachable to the back of a standard military vest in order tooffset the weight distribution of the user's upper body.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a gun slingthat is attachable to the back of a standard military vest that allows auser to move their weapon from one side to another under their arms.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a gun slingthat can function as a one-point and two-point sling, while satisfyingthe previously stated objects of the present invention.

These and other objects are accomplished by a gun sling comprising: onepart stretchable material, one part adjustable strapping, a means forfixed attachment, a fastener, and a sliding apparatus. The presentinvention also functions in a system and method of utilizing it thatcomprises of the present invention coupled with a standard tactical vestwhere the sling is attached to the back of a tactical vest and passesunder a user's arm and allows easy transition from strong side tosupport side, and vice versa. In one of the potential preferredembodiments, the gun sling comprises: one part bungee material, one partadjustable strapping, a fastener that attaches to a vest, aquick-release comprised of a male and female end, and a metallic ringthat is removably attachable to a weapon.

By utilizing a sliding device onto the sling itself that is removablyattachable to a weapon, a user is able to easily move their weapon fromstrong side to support side, and vice versa. Doing this forgoes the needto use an adjustment to switch firing positions without having toincrease the length of the sling, and having to reconfigure it.Additionally, having a segment of the sling being composed of bungeematerial makes this transition easier. In order to be attachable totraditional tactical vests, an anchor point attachment is needed inorder for the gun sling to be fixed to it. This can be easilyaccomplished utilizing the webbing present on standard tactical veststhat allow a multitude of attachments. Once this is attached, the gunsling can be removably attached to the vest and the gun sling can beoriented under a user's arms. This also allows an offset of the weightof the weapon for less strain on the user's upper body. Normally,traditional slings that are accompanied with vests rests on a user'sshoulder and runs diagonally across the body. Furthermore, by utilizingthis orientation, a user can easily switch between firing positionsseamlessly by traversing their weapon which is removably attached to thesliding device, moving it along the length of the gun sling. This systemcan also be incorporated with harnesses worn by those in the protectionindustry. Lastly, the present invention allows a user to easily movetheir weapon from their front side to their back, and vice versa, inorder to have free use and range of their arms and hands. All of thisoccurs with little to no movement of the gun sling itself, the slingremains fixed either to a person, vest, or harness, where the slidingapparatus is the only moving part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a gun sling.

FIG. 2 is a view of a user utilizing one embodiment of a gun sling ontheir strong side.

FIG. 3 is a view of a user utilizing one embodiment of a gun sling ontheir support side.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a gun sling removableattached to a vest.

FIG. 5 is a view of a user utilizing one embodiment of a gun sling andvest on their strong side.

FIG. 6 is a view of a user utilizing one embodiment of a gun sling andvest on their support side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It is to be understood that the following disclosure provides differentembodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of variousembodiments of the invention. Specific examples of components andarrangements are described below. These are merely examples and are notintended to be limiting. In addition, the present disclosure may repeatreference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. Thisrepetition is for the purpose of simplicity. Hereinafter, an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure will be discussed in reference tothe drawings.

The gun sling 100 of this invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. 110/111create a means of adjustment for gun sling 100. This is commonly seentoday on a wide array of products and would be familiar to a person ofordinary skill in the art. This adjustment is necessary in order toaccommodate the varying sizes of users. 150/160 create a quick-releasesystem that is imperative when designing combatant gear. In a preferredembodiment, 150/160 are composed of a male and female end. This can becreated with a simple polymer or even of a metallic kind, depending onthe environment and use. It allows a user a means to break the loop ofgun sling 100 at a moment's notice. In a combat situation, a user needsthe most efficient method to switch firing positions and be completelymobile. Stretchable material 190 may be implemented as having itsflexibility can make the transition between firing positions easier.Sliding device 120 allows a firearm to transition through the length ofgun sling 100. A user attaches sliding device 120 to their firearm whilewearing gun sling 100. A user can then slide their weapon across thelength of gun sling 100 from various firing positions, including, butnot limited to, switching from strong side to support side, and viceversa. In a preferred embodiment, sliding device 120 comprises of aremovable metallic ring with a diameter large enough to avoid snaggingon gun sling 100. Gun sling 100 passes through sliding device 120. Dueto the varying sizes of firearms, mainly rifles and shotguns withvarious attachment points, sliding device 120 may be further attached tosliding device extension 180. Sliding device extension 180 creates alarger distance between gun sling 100 and the weapon itself if it isneeded. Attachment point 130 is a connection point between gun sling 100and the weapon itself. Commercially speaking, sliding device extension180 may be included with packaging and allow a user to attach it to gunsling 100.

FIG. 2. and FIG. 3. visually depict a user wearing gun sling 100 anddemonstrates the switching of firing positions from a user's strong side220 (dominant firing position) to their support side 240 (weak firingposition). FIG. 2. depicts a user who is left-hand dominant utilizinggun sling 100 and in a standard firing position. A left-hand dominantuser places their right hand on the grip of a weapon where they canfire, while their right hand holds the barrel of the weapon in order toaim. A right-handed user does the opposite orientation. In a combatsituation, utilizing gun sling 100, a user can switch to the firingposition exemplified in FIG. 3. This can be done seamlessly as thefirearm is attached to sliding device 120 and can traverse the length ofgun sling 100 to the desired position, and vice-versa.

FIG. 4. shows a perspective view of gun sling 100 attached to a vest orharness. Anchor point 140 attaches to a vest or harness. In onepreferred embodiment, this is positioned on the back of a vest orharness. In order to be attached, connection point 310 must be attachedto the vest or harness. In one preferred embodiment, connection point310 may be made of a metallic material to ensure it can withstand theweight of traditional tactical gear.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 depict a user with gun sling 100 removably attached toa vest or harness. FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. demonstrate the switching offiring positions from a user's strong side 220 to their support side 240by passing under a user's arms. The method of utilizing gun sling 100 ina system with a vest or harness that has connection point 310 allows auser to change firing positions quickly and easily. This system also hasthe advantage of being able to stow a weapon behind a user and be ableto quickly retrieve it to a firing position. Additionally, since gunsling 100 passes under a user's arms, it takes the weight of the weaponand movement off a user's shoulders since connection point 310 can bepositions on the upper back of a vest or harness.

What is claimed is:
 1. A gun sling that facilitates the transitionbetween firing positions, comprising: a closed loop of strapping; aquick-release system; a sliding device; a means for length adjustment.2. The gun sling of claim 1, wherein at least one portion of thestrapping is comprised of a stretchable material.
 3. The gun sling ofclaim 2, wherein the stretchable material is bungee.
 4. The gun sling ofclaim 1, further comprising a fixed means of attachment.
 5. The gunsling of claim 1, wherein the sliding device further comprises ametallic ring.
 6. The gun sling of claim 1, wherein the quick-releasesystem comprises of a male and female end.
 7. The gun sling of claim 5,wherein the metallic ring is additionally attached to a length ofstrapping.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the gun sling facilitatesmovement of a weapon diagonally across a user's body.
 9. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the gun sling facilitates movement of a weaponhorizontally across a user's body.
 10. The method of claim 4, whereinthe gun sling is removably attached to a vest and allows the user tochange firing positions under their arms.
 11. The method of claim 4,wherein the gun sling is removably attached to a harness and allows theuser to change firing positions under their arms.